JAKARTA - The presenter from Russia who hosted the World Cup draw with Gary Lineker made Russian President Vladimir Putin's ears hot. Maria Komandyana called the invasion of Ukraine a "tragedy".
Komandnaya, who played a key role in the 2018 World Cup, posted a heartwarming post on Instagram.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in the biggest European offensive since World War Two. And Komandnaya opened her social media to express her feelings.
“These photos appear to be from past lives - and they are from the past. What is happening now is a tragedy. I really can't find the words - not because I'm afraid of Roskomnadzor (media watchdog), but because I don't have one," Komandyana wrote.
"The last week and a half have been the hardest time of my life. How can I move on? I'm not Ekaterina Shulman, and I don't know."
'Roskomnadzor' is the name given to the Russian federal agency responsible for controlling and censoring Russian mass media, while 'Shulman' is a Russian political scientist.
Komandnaya, a journalist and TV presenter who is one of the biggest names in his country, became the center of attention for Lineker as the 2018 World Cup draw took place in Moscow ahead of the country's competition.
He spoke of the tournament to FIFA in 2018: “Millions of fans are holding their breath, hoping their dreams will come true. It's time for the World Cup to officially start. I believe that football is a universal language, capable of bringing people from all over the world together.
"And this is when we can all talk football. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to help host one of the biggest sporting events. I want to show the fans how beautiful my country is and how excited we are to host the World Cup. We are very passionate about what we do, and about football. Trust me, it's going to be a really great event."
Russia has expressed interest in hosting either Euro 2028 or Euro 2032 despite the country's mass isolation across Europe. Currently, Russian clubs and national teams are suspended by FIFA and UEFA, with the Russian Football Union to the Court of Arbitration for Sport appealing the decision.
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